Orioles star's legacy went beyond baseball field

7:03 PM,
Jan. 7, 2014

Written by

DEWAYNE WICKHAM

The day after Paul Blair died, the staff at Turf Valley golf course outside Baltimore paid the former Major League Baseball player what I'm sure he'd have considered the ultimate tribute. They parked the golf cart Blair regularly used in front of the pro shop for the entire day.

It was a fitting homage to Blair, 69, who died the day after Christmas and whose memorial service was Friday. While not an outstanding offensive baseball player during his 17-year career, Blair was a giant on defense - better than Willie Mays and Ken Griffey Jr., according to one statistical analysis.